Chicago @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 2, 2019 ) Chicago 3, Los Angeles 6

The Chicago Blackhawks may need to run the table and receive their fair share of help if they are going to avoid missing the playoffs for the second straight season. With little margin for error, the Blackhawks are remaining optimistic heading into the finale of their three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.

"We're not accepting any fate any time soon, so (Thursday's 5-4 victory over San Jose was) a big win for us to stay alive and keep that morale up and keep heading toward the end of the season in the right direction regardless of what happens in the standings," captain Jonathan Toews said. The 30-year-old Toews scored and set up a goal against the Sharks to tie his career high for points in a season with 76 for the Blackhawks, who have just five games remaining on their schedule. Los Angeles has defeated Chicago on two occasions this season, with Dustin Brown scoring twice in a 6-3 win on March 2. Adrian Kempe collected a goal and an assist in that contest and also tallied on Thursday as the Kings dropped their second straight with a 3-2 shootout loss versus Vancouver.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (34-33-10): Alex DeBrincat tallied twice on Thursday to register his seventh multi-goal performance and reach the 40-goal plateau, giving Chicago two 40-goal scorers (Patrick Kane, 41) for the first time since 1990-91 (Steve Larmer, 44; Jeremy Roenick, 41). "When you get to see him every night, you realize how the skill set he has is pretty special," coach Jeremy Colliton said of the 21-year-old DeBrincat. "That release, he finds a way when he does release it, he puts it in a good spot." Kane, who has team-leading totals in goals (41), assists (63) and points (104), has tallied just once in March and has been held off the scoresheet in both meetings with Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE KINGS (28-40-9): While Brown celebrated a milestone by skating in his franchise-best 1,112th game on Thursday, the 34-year-old also wanted to use the setback as a learning tool for his club. "I wish we had a little more killer instinct on two power plays, one late and one in overtime," Brown said. "We need to learn. We are out of the playoffs, but that is the difference between playoff teams and non-playoff teams, opportunities like that slipping through your fingers. Good teams find a way to capitalize." Tyler Toffoli, who saw his three-game point streak halted against San Jose, scored in a 2-1 shootout win at Chicago on Nov. 16.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago G Corey Crawford fell to 9-6-2 in his career against Los Angeles after turning aside 50 of 57 shots in a pair of losses this season.

2. Kings G Jonathan Quick made 29 saves in this month's meeting with the Blackhawks to improve to 13-16-1 in his career versus the club.

3. Chicago C Brendan Perlini, who scored twice in the recent tilt with Los Angeles, has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last six games.

PREDICTION: Kings 3, Blackhawks 2